Download Accelerator
"I download large files often, and I've noticed that my download speed varies quite a bit. Aside from upgrading my Internet connection, what can I do to accelerate my downloads?"
Free Download Accelerators
Paradoxically, file downloads are taking longer even though download speeds are increasing. In the dialup days, people downloaded documents and software packages measured in kilobytes. Then came programs and music files in the multi-megabyte range. Now we have full-length high-definition movies measured in gigabytes. A full-length HD movie file can take hours to download, even over a high-speed connection.
The problem is not entirely your connection speed. A 1 GB file should download in about 3 hours, 20 minutes over a 1 Mbps connection, in theory. But in practice, it may take several times longer. Factors that slow download speed include traffic on the Internet between you and the file's location; the total load on the server that is sending the file; and deliberate speed-throttling that some ISPs and servers impose on large file downloads. The bottom line is that often only half of your connection's full speed potential gets used.
Enter download accelerators, programs that use several tricks to fill your Internet connection to capacity and cut download times dramatically.
Download Accelerator Plus
One popular example of this breed is Download Accelerator Plus, also known as DAP. DAP, and other download accelerators, work their magic by downloading parts of a large file from multiple sources and via multiple channels whenever possible. A server holding the file you want may only be able to send it at 100 KBps max, but if DAP can find the same file on another server it will download parts of the file from both servers, finishing the job in half the time. Also, some servers impose a speed limit on each connection made to them. DAP can open multiple connections to the same server and download at several times the speed limit.
Increases of 200% in measured download speed are not uncommon. I hit 900 KBps while downloading the DAP installation package a second time after installing Download Accelerator Plus; the first download maxed out at about 450 KBps. Sometimes, DAP will achieve 400% of normal download speeds.
Installing DAP requires close attention. The installation routine asks you to install additional software, such as a one-click YouTube video downloader, that you may or may not want. But if you read before you click "OK" you'll be fine. Once installed, DAP operates invisibly. When you browse to a Web page that says, "click to download" just click as usual, and your download speed meter will show you the effect of DAP.
Other Download Accelerators
The download accelerator genre is full of competitors. If you use the Firefox browser, check out DownThemAll. DownThemAll was originally created as a tool to help you download all the links or images contained in a webpage. It has evolved over the years into a fine download manager which offers acceleration of downloads by up to 400%, and the ability to pause and resume downloads.
One word of caution - malware is sometimes disguised as a download accelerator. Before you download and install any download accelerator, check its reputation via Google. Make sure real-time antivirus software is running on your computer before you download or install any new software. And read the fine print in the EULA (End User Licensing Agreement). Make sure you're not unknowingly giving the program permission to install other things without your expressed consent.
Do you use a download accelerator? Post your comment or question below...
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Posted by Bob Rankin on December 3, 2009 09:33 PM
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Article information: AskBobRankin -- Download Accelerator (Posted: December 3, 2009 09:33 PM)
Source: http://askbobrankin.com/download_accelerator.html
Copyright © 2005 - Bob Rankin - All Rights Reserved
Most recent comments on "Download Accelerator"
Posted by:
Mary
07 Dec 2009
What's the difference between a download accelerator and BitTorrent (AKA: download network accelerator) or some other peer-to-peer file sharing protocol? Wouldn't the same problems associated with P2P file sharing (viruses, spyware, etc.) be just as likely with a dowload accelerator?
Posted by:
Smiling Carcass
07 Dec 2009
The differences, where they exist are subtle. Basically, peer2peer uses several, if not hundreds or even thousands of connections to other users sharing files. There is no server, just a direct connection to other users. (Or you might argue every peer is a server) Any one of these users could be (and often are) malicious and include viruses etc. in their offerings.
Downloader’s connect to the sites server offering the download, which one assumes you already trust. (If not, what are you doing downloading from there?) It then seeks other servers offering the same download and connects to those servers.
That does not mean the download is safe. However, the file you want will probably have a checksum the downloader will validate to make sure it is downloading the same file from the several servers. (In case a nasty person has infected the original file- this will alter the checksum, though the file may appear exactly the same to us Muppets!)
But bear in mind, there are sneaky downloader’s that don’t actually download any faster. What they do is start to download any files on a site you connect to into your temporary folder. If you decide not to download any files, you just have so many junk, part files in your temp folder. If you do decide to download, the ‘download accelerator’ merely uses the part file it has pre-emptively downloaded and gives the appearance of a fast download. This is how Firefox appears to be faster- pre-empting downloads. Not that I am blaming FF. I love it and wouldn’t use anything else. And it doesn’t attempt to tell you it is using some special software to get downloads quicker.
Now while I believe most of the above to be accurate, don’t go suing me if I am wrong or have unintentionally misrepresented the information. I’m an old man and my memory isn’t what it was. And my feet- the stories I could tell you about my feet!! (They’re on the end of my legs, y’know!)
Posted by:
Barney
08 Dec 2009
I hope Bob will answer Mary's question. I don't know the difference between download accelerators and P2P networks, but I do know that the first time I tried BitTorrent I got a virus--despite my Norton Internet Security program. It took me all day, and a whole lot of grief, to get rid of it, and I immediately jettisoned the BitTorrent program.
None of us needs that kind of trouble, and I won't be getting a download accelerator until I can be assured of the safety.
EDITOR'S NOTE: One previous commenter has discussed some of the differences between P2P and download accelerators. Both use multiple sources to download a file. But it's not fair to associate the inherent dangers of P2P with download accelerators. If you're downloading an unverified quantity from an unknown location, you may well have trouble as a result. But if you're downloading from a trustworthy site, you needn't be concerned that using a download accelerator will add any risk.
Posted by:
Ravi Agrawal
08 Dec 2009
http://www.metaproducts.com/mp/MetaProducts_Download_Express.htm
I prefer Download Express, Been using it since last 4 years without problems.
Ravi.
Posted by:
Paul Higgins
09 Dec 2009
I don’t think I associated download accelerators with the inherent dangers of p2p. I think I made it clear that p2p was almost an invitation to infection while accelerators downloaded primarily from a source you choose (the inherent weakness in all downloads!) while checking files from other servers for suitability via there checksum.
Ultimately it is not the downloader, be it p2p or accelerator but the file it downloads that is the danger. And it is the user that chooses the file.
Personally I have used Bittorrent for years without problems. But then, I am careful about what and where I choose to download.
Posted by:
Mike
27 Dec 2009
I use Flashget which is free and no problem at all
Posted by:
mai
30 Dec 2009
i have a question for u...............my friends say that by switching on and off the torrent downloader it increases the download speed of the download............and can u advice me a better way to increase my download speed of the torrents
EDITOR'S NOTE: Do they also think that if you switch the light on and off, there's more light in the room?